Bill-file



(Nb Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet-L O. W. BOWNE BILL FILE Patented Oct. 21,1890.

(No MOdel.) 2 Sheets -Sheet 2.

0. W. BOWNE.

BILL FILE. No. 438,909. Patented 0 1;..21, 1890.

HM x; 7 M @y g a W I H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

CHARLES WV. BOYVNE, OF MILLER, SOUTH DAKOTA.

BILL-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 438,909, dated October 21, 1890. Application filed September 8, 1890. Serial No. 364,251. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. BowNE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Miller, in the county of Hand and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bill-Files; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of billfiles which are constructed in the form of a case or cabinet, and its object is to hold legal blanks, letters, bills, and other papers in compact form to keep them stra1ght and free from dust and in order, so that any paper may be readily found, and so mechanically supported that the same may at any time be loosened and be given a slanting position for easy inspection.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts forming a bill and paper file, hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a front view in perspective of a cabinet comprising a series of my blll-files adapted in their proportions to hold various styles of paper, one drawer or file being open in position for inspection of its contents. Fig. II is a rear side view of one of my bill-files on a larger scale, showing the sides in crosssection. Fig. 111 is avertical section at the line 00 of Fig. 2.

5 represents the front, 6 the bottom, 7 the two sides, and 8 the back, of a box which constitutes the body of my bill-file. The back fits loosely between the sides, and is free to take either a vertical or slanting position at any point in the length of the box.

9 is a cross-bar journaled in shoes 10, which are fitted to slide in grooves 11 in the sides 7 behind metallic flange-strips 12, which are secured to the sides 7 to project a little over the grooves 11.

13 represents two clamp-bars, each provided with a cushion 14 of leather or other slightlyelastic material, to be pressed against the flange-strips 12 or to be released therefrom by a T-shaped lever 15, upon the two opposite arms of which the inner ends of-. the

clamp-bars are pivoted at 16. The lever 15 v is centrally pivoted at 17 to the cross-bar 9, and is limited in its motion by astud l8, fixed to the said cross-bar. The two clamp-bars 13 are slotted at 19 to receive studs 20, which may be screws fixed in the cross-bar 9 for the clamp-bars to slide a little endwise upon. The back 8 is loosely hung upon the cross-bar 9 by means of broad staples 21, which are socured at their ends to the said back and pass freely midway over the cross-bar, thus permitting the back to rest at its lower edge on the bottom 6, whether the back leans against the cross-bar or is held vertically thereby. 1

The distance between the pivots 16 is such that when they are in line with the clampbars 13 the cushions 14 are crowded firmly against the flange-strips 12, so as to hold the cross-bar rigidly fixed in whatever position it may be so set, thus holding the back either vertical or at any slant required, so that the inclosed papers may be either pressed firmly together to keep them in place and out of wrinkle or they may be moved apart and be turned on their lower edges like the leaves of a book to select any one desired.

In order that the sides 7 may not be crowded apart andin course of time fail to hold against the pressure of the clamp-bars, I fit the shoes 10 to slide closely against the backs of the flange-strips 12, and so maintain them by means of heads 22 upon the journals of the cross-bar, or these journals may be headed screws standing from the ends of the crossbar. Then the T-shaped lever is in service its pivots 16 are a little past the line of centers, and the lever is so held by the stud 18. Thus the cross-bar supports the clamp-bar, which presses against the sides, and also supports the sides against the said pressure and all other tendencyto separate them. Between the different kinds of classes of paper 23 may be partitions 24 of pasteboard or othersuitable material, having edges or tabs projecting above the papers and marked to indicate the adjacent class or kind of papers, and the boxes may be proportioned to suit the forms offolded bills and other documents to be filed away, as well as the size and form of sheets of drawing or of legal blanks, 850., thus economizing space for storage and time in searching for any paper wanted and keeping the papers clean and in proper form. These files may be used singly or be associated together in cases or cabinets of any desired form. The title bill-file is intended to cover the device described for every purpose and use for which it is adapted. The leather cushions prevent stumbling, noise, and wear on the flange-strips, and may be readily replaced if ever Worn out.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. The combination, in bill-files, of a box com prisingthe rigidly-fixed front, bottom, and sides, and the back movable therein, the sides being grooved and provided with flange-strips projecting part way over the grooves, a crossbar secured to the back by loose staples and journaled in shoes fitted to slide in the aforesaid slots, two clamp-bars loosely secured near the outer ends to the cross-bar and provided with cushions to press against the said flangestrips, a T-shaped lever centrally pivoted to the cross-bar and pivoted at its arms to the said clamp-bars, and a stud fix ed to the cross bar to stop the said lever With its pivots just past the line of centers and end bearings, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the fixed front, sides, and bottom of a bill-file box, the sides being slotted and a cross-bar fitted to slide therein, means for securing the crossbar at any point along the said slotted sides, and staples secured at their ends to the back and passing midway loosely over the cross-bar, whereby the back may be raised and lowered relatively to the cross-bar and yet be held thereto, as described.

3. The combination of the fixed slotted sides and movable back of a bill-file, the sides having flange-strips projecting partly over the said slots, a cross-bar attached to the said back and journaled in shoes fitted to slide behind the said flange-strips, the shoes being secured upon the journals against outward thrust, and a clamping device secured to the said cross-bar and adapted to press outward against the said flange-strips, and holding upon the said strips in conjunction with the said shoes and cross-bar, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a movable bill-file back, a cross-bar loosely secured to it to support it, side guides for the ends of the crossbar, a clamping device adapted to hold the cross-bar to the said side guides, and a cushion interposed as one contact member of each said clamp, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PUSEY, E. J. MILLER. 

